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Sprint banks on Palm Pre

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The Associated Press

Published: June 6, 2009

NEW YORK - Sprint Nextel Corp. CEO Dan Hesse said today's release of Palm Inc.'s anticipated Pre smart phone represents a "coming out party" for Sprint as it seeks to reverse subscriber losses.

Sprint, which will carry the Pre exclusively at least through the end of the year, lost 1.25 million subscribers during the first three months of the year, worse than the 1.1 million that fled in the fourth quarter.

Hesse said the Pre gives Sprint an opportunity to show off its competitive voice and data networks and service plans, things that could help the company retain subscribers and lure new ones. He said Sprint has "vastly" improved its customer service and network performance.

"We are a very, very different company than we were 12 months ago," Hesse said Friday.

The Pre has a touch-screen and slide-out keyboard and will cost $200 with a two-year service plan and rebate. It also sports Palm's new operating system, webOS. Numerous early reviews, including one by The Associated Press, have been positive.

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